swell

 
Pronunciation: /swɛl/

verb (swells, swelling, swelled; past participle swollen /ˈswəʊlən/ or swelled)

  • 1 [no object] (especially of a part of the body) become larger or rounder in size, typically as a result of an accumulation of fluid: her bruised knee was already swelling up figurative the sky was black and swollen with rain (as adjective swollen) swollen glands
  • be intensely affected or filled with a particular emotion: she felt herself swell with pride
  • 2become or make greater in intensity, number, amount, or volume: [no object]: the low murmur swelled to a roar (as adjective swelling) the swelling ranks of Irish singer-songwriters [with object]: the city’s population was swollen by refugees

noun

  • 1 [in singular] a full or gently rounded shape or form: the soft swell of her breast
  • 2a gradual increase in amount, intensity, or volume: a huge swell in the popularity of one-day cricket
  • a welling up of a feeling: a swell of pride swept over George
  • 3a slow, regular movement of the sea in rolling waves that do not break: there was a heavy swell
  • 4a mechanism for producing a crescendo or diminuendo in an organ or harmonium.
  • 5 informal, dated a fashionable or stylish person of wealth or high social position: a crowd of city swells

adjective

North American informal, dated
  • excellent; very good: you’re looking swell
  • archaic smart; fashionable: a swell boulevard

adverb

North American informal, dated
  • excellently; very well: everything was just going swell

Phrases

one's head swells

one becomes conceited: I am not saying this to make your head swell if I say this, you’ll get swollen-headed

Origin:

Old English swellan (verb), of Germanic origin; related to German schwellen. Current senses of the noun date from the early 16th century; the informal adjectival use derives from noun swell (sense 5 of the noun) (late 18th century)